In the United States, electricity derived from coal has decreased over the past two decades, with the annual output declining by almost 65 percent between 2010 and 2024. In contrast, there has been a rise in natural gas and renewable sources within the energy mix. How is electricity generated in the U.S.? Most electricity in the U.S. is generated from steam turbines, which can be powered by fossil and nuclear fuels, biomass, geothermal, and solar thermal energy. Other systems such as gas turbines, hydro turbines, wind turbines, and solar photovoltaics are also major generation technologies. Electric utilities in the U.S. generated more than 2,241 terawatt hours in 2024, accounting for just over half of the power output in the country that year. Growing renewable capacity Renewable sources have become more prominent in the U.S. over the past years, particularly wind, hydro, and solar energy. The former has overtaken conventional hydropower, becoming the leading renewable energy source in the U.S. since 2019. Wind and solar power have also accounted for the largest share of electricity capacity additions in the country in recent years.

Throughout the past decade, the United States has been notably decreasing its use of coal, and increasing the use of natural gas and renewable energy sources for electricity generation. In 2024, natural gas was by far the largest source of electricity in the North American country, with a generation share of 43 percent. Renewable energy's share amounted to 24 percent that year.

The City and County Energy Profiles lookup table provides modeled electricity and natural gas consumption and expenditures, on-road vehicle fuel consumption, vehicle miles traveled, and associated emissions for each U.S. city and county. Please note this data is modeled and more precise data may be available from regional, state, or other sources. The modeling approach for electricity and natural gas is described in Sector-Specific Methodologies for Subnational Energy Modeling: https://www.nrel.gov/docs/fy19osti/72748.pdf. This data is part of a suite of state and local energy profile data available at the "State and Local Energy Profile Data Suite" link below and complements the wealth of data, maps, and charts on the State and Local Planning for Energy (SLOPE) platform, available at the "Explore State and Local Energy Data on SLOPE" link below. Examples of how to use the data to inform energy planning can be found at the "Example Uses" link below.

Data on annual emissions of Carbon Dioxide (CO2), Sulfur Dioxide (SO2), and Nitrogen Oxides (NOx). Data organized by type of electric power producer, by energy source, and by U.S. state. Annual time series extend back to 1990. Based on Form EIA-861 data. Electric Power Producer: Commercial Cogen, Commercial Non-Cogen, Electric Utility, Industrial Cogen, Industrial Non-Cogen, IPP NAICS-22 Cogen, IPP NAICS-22 Non-Cogen, and Total Electric Power Industry Energy Source: Coal, Geothermal, Natural Gas, Other, Other Biomass, Other Gases, Wood and Wood Derived Fuels, Petroleum, and All Energy Sources

Power Plants in the U.S.This feature layer, utilizing data from the Energy Information Administration (EIA), depicts all operable electric generating plants by energy source in the U.S. This includes plants that are operating, on standby, or short- or long-term out of service. The data covers all plants with a combined nameplate capacity of 1 MW (Megawatt) or more.Per EIA, "The United States uses many different energy sources and technologies to generate electricity. The sources and technologies have changed over time, and some are used more than others. The three major categories of energy for electricity generation are fossil fuels (coal, natural gas, and petroleum), nuclear energy, and renewable energy sources. Most electricity is generated with steam turbines using fossil fuels, nuclear, biomass, geothermal, and solar thermal energy. Other major electricity generation technologies include gas turbines, hydro turbines, wind turbines, and solar photovoltaics."Madison Gas & Electric Company, Sycamore Power PlantData currency: This cached Esri service is checked monthly for updates from its federal source (Power Plants)Data modification: NoneFor more information, please visit:Electricity ExplainedEIA-860, Annual Electric Generator ReportEIA-860M, Monthly Update to the Annual Electric Generator ReportEIA-923, Power Plant Operations ReportSupport documentation: MetadataFor feedback: ArcGIScomNationalMaps@esri.comEnergy Information AdministrationPer EIA, "The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) collects, analyzes, and disseminates independent and impartial energy information to promote sound policymaking, efficient markets, and public understanding of energy and its interaction with the economy and the environment."

State-level data on all energy sources. Data on production, consumption, reserves, stocks, prices, imports, and exports. Data are collated from state-specific data reported elsewhere on the EIA website and are the most recent values available. Data on U.S. territories also available.

Nuclear power had the highest capacity factor among energy sources in the United States, at over 92 percent in 2024. Geothermal energy-generating facilities followed and had the largest capacity factor among renewable sources at 65 percent. In contrast, natural gas and petroleum ranked the lowest. Cost of nuclear power in the United States Despite the large capacity factor, nuclear power plants had one of the highest levelized costs of electricity in the country. The operating expenses of nuclear utilities in the U.S. are nearly 50 percent lower than those of fossil fuel power plants, indicating higher capital expenditure for these facilities. Capacity factor of renewable energy plants Excluding geothermal energy, the capacity factor of renewable energy plants in the U.S. was roughly 34 percent for hydropower and wind energy and close to 23 percent for solar photovoltaic and solar thermal in 2023. Overall, the capacity factor of offshore wind power worldwide was at 41 percent in 2023, while the one of utility-scale solar PV was at approximately 16 percent in that year.

United States US: Electricity Production From Hydroelectric Sources: % of Total data was reported at 5.842 % in 2015. This records a decrease from the previous number of 6.054 % for 2014. United States US: Electricity Production From Hydroelectric Sources: % of Total data is updated yearly, averaging 9.342 % from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2015, with 56 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 18.881 % in 1962 and a record low of 4.904 % in 2001. United States US: Electricity Production From Hydroelectric Sources: % of Total data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s United States – Table US.World Bank.WDI: Energy Production and Consumption. Sources of electricity refer to the inputs used to generate electricity. Hydropower refers to electricity produced by hydroelectric power plants.; ; IEA Statistics © OECD/IEA 2014 (http://www.iea.org/stats/index.asp), subject to https://www.iea.org/t&c/termsandconditions/; Weighted average; Electricity production shares may not sum to 100 percent because other sources of generated electricity (such as geothermal, solar, and wind) are not shown. Restricted use: Please contact the International Energy Agency for third-party use of these data.

US Power Market size was valued to be USD 363.6 Billion in the year 2024 and it is expected to reach USD 517 Billion in 2031, at a CAGR of 4.5% over the forecast period of 2024 to 2031.The U.S. power market is driven by several key factors: the increasing demand for electricity, propelled by the rapid expansion of data centers and the electrification of transportation, necessitates significant investments in transmission infrastructure to enhance grid capacity and reliability. The growing emphasis on renewable energy sources, such as wind and solar, is reshaping the energy mix, influenced by both economic factors and policy initiatives. Technological advancements, including the integration of artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things, are further transforming grid operations and energy management. Additionally, policy and regulatory frameworks, including government incentives and environmental regulations, play a crucial role in shaping market dynamics.

U.S. power consumption is projected to reach record highs in 2025 and 2026, driven by increased demand from data centers, AI, and cryptocurrency, with a shift towards renewable energy sources.

This deposit combines data from https://doi.org/10.3886/E146782V1 and https://doi.org/10.3886/E146801V1 to produce files containing the hourly generation, costs, and capacities of virtually all power plants in the lower 48 United States between 1999-2012 for their use in "Data and Code for: Imperfect Markets versus Imperfect Regulation in U.S. Electricity Generation" (https://doi.org/10.3886/E115467V1).

This feature layer, utilizing data from the Energy Information Administration (EIA), depicts all operable electric generating plants by energy source in the U.S. This includes plants that are operating, on standby, or short- or long-term out of service. The data covers all plants with a combined nameplate capacity of 1 MW (Megawatt) or more.Renewable, nuclear and fossil fuels are the three major categories of energy for electricity generation. Renewable energy sources and nuclear energy each provided about 20% of the electricity in the U.S. in 2018. Fossil fuels provided the other electricity generation in the U.S.Power Plants in the U.S.Data currency: April 2019Data source: MAPSFor more information, please visit:Electricity - ExplainedEIA-860, Annual Electric Generator ReportEIA-860M, Monthly Update to the Annual Electric Generator ReportEIA-923, Power Plant Operations ReportFor feedback: ArcGIScomNationalMaps@esri.comThumbnail source image courtesy of: Jeanne MenjouletSymbology courtesy of the following Noun Project contributors: Lisa Staudinger, Robert Beerwerth, Nikita Kozin, emilegraphics, Ron Scott, BomSymbols, Andrejs Kirma, Becris, Symbolon, Ryan Dell and IconathonOther Federal User Community federally focused content that may interest you:U.S. Department of EnergyEnergy Information Administration

This data corresponds to the 2024 Standard Scenarios report, which contains a suite of forward-looking scenarios of the possible evolution of the U.S. electricity sector through 2050. These files contain modeled projections of the future. Although we strive to capture relevant phenomena as comprehensively as possible, the models used to create this data are unavoidably imperfect, and the future is highly uncertain. Consequentially, this data should not be the sole basis for making decisions. In addition to drawing from multiple scenarios within this set, we encourage analysts to also draw on projections from other sources, to benefit from diverse analytical frameworks and perspectives when forming their conclusions about the future of the power sector. For further discussions about the limitations of the models underlying this data, see section 1.4 of the "ReEDS Documentation" linked below. For scenario descriptions, input assumptions, and metric definitions for the data in these files, see the "2024 Standard Scenarios Report" linked below.

Petroleum is the primary source of energy in the United States, with a consumption of 35.35 quadrillion British thermal units in 2024. Closely following, the U.S. had 34.2 quadrillion British thermal units of energy derived from natural gas. Energy consumption by sector in the United States Petroleum is predominantly utilized as a fuel in the transportation sector, which is also the second-largest consumer of energy in the U.S. with almost 30 percent of the country’s total energy consumption in 2024. This figure is topped only by the energy-guzzling industrial sector, a major consumer of fossil fuels such as petroleum and natural gas. Renewable energy in the United States Despite the prevalence of fossil fuels in the U.S. energy mix, the use of renewable energy consumption has grown immensely in the last decades to approximately 11 exajoules in 2023. Most of the renewable energy produced in the U.S. is derived from biomass, hydro and wind sources. In 2024, renewable electricity accounted for approximately 24 percent of the nation’s total electricity generation.

United States Renewable Energy Market Outlook 2031

The United States renewable energy market size was USD XX Billion in 2022 and is likely to reach USD XX Billion by 2031, expanding at a CAGR of 10.1% during the forecast period, 2023–2031. The growth of the market is attributed to government policies and initiatives to fulfil increased electricity demand using renewable energy sources have been praised.



In 2020, United States electricity generated through renewable energy sources (such as wind, hydropower, solar, biomass, and geothermal energy) a record 834 billion kilowatt-hours (kWh) accounting for around 21% of all electricity generated in the US.

In the United States in 2020, only natural gas (1,617 billion kWh) produced more power than renewables. For the first time in history, renewables outperformed nuclear (790 billion kWh) and coal (774 billion kWh). This result in 2020 was mostly owing to a major reduction in coal use in energy generation in the United States, as well as constantly increasing use of wind and solar.



In 2007, coal-fired electricity output in the United States reached a high of 2,016 billion kWh, although much of that capacity has since been replaced or converted to natural gas-fired power.



Until 2016 coal was the greatest source of electricity in the US, and by 2020 was the first year when renewables and nuclear power provided more electricity than coal (according to our data series that dates back to 1949). Because many nuclear power plants retired and other nuclear facilities suffered slightly more maintenance-related interruptions, nuclear electric generation dropped by Two percent from 2019 to 2020.



With a 42 % rise between 2010 and 2020, renewable energy is the rapidly growing energy source in the United States from 2000 to 2020, it increased by 90%.



In 2020, renewables accounted for about 20% of utility-scale energy generation in the United States, with hydropower <str

The US power market, a significant segment of the global energy landscape, is experiencing robust growth, driven by increasing energy demand, supportive government policies promoting renewable energy sources, and the ongoing transition away from fossil fuels. The market's size in 2025 is estimated at $800 billion (this is an assumption based on the global market size and the US's significant share of the global energy market; actual data is needed for accuracy), exhibiting a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) exceeding 5.6% through 2033. Key growth drivers include the expanding adoption of renewable energy technologies like solar and wind power, fueled by decreasing costs and technological advancements. Furthermore, modernization of the aging transmission and distribution infrastructure is necessary to support the influx of renewable energy and increasing electricity consumption. Despite the positive outlook, challenges remain, including the intermittent nature of renewable sources requiring advanced energy storage solutions and the need for significant investment in grid upgrades to accommodate the evolving energy mix. Despite regulatory hurdles and potential supply chain disruptions, the US power market presents compelling opportunities for established players like General Electric and NextEra Energy, as well as emerging companies focusing on innovative technologies. The market is segmented by generation type (conventional thermal, hydro, nuclear, non-hydro renewables), and transmission and distribution infrastructure. North America, particularly the US, commands a substantial share of this market, followed by Europe and Asia Pacific. However, emerging economies in Asia and Africa are experiencing rapid growth, representing attractive investment prospects. Future growth will depend on the successful integration of renewable energy sources, smart grid technologies, and efficient energy management strategies. Continued investment in research and development will be critical to overcoming technological barriers and ensuring a sustainable and reliable power supply for the future. Recent developments include: In October 2020, Equinor has announced its Empire wind project with an installed capacity of 816MW is scheduled to commission by 2024. The project is expected to meet the power needs of more than half a million households in New York. Equinor is currently the sole owner of the Empire wind project and is likely to remain the operator throughout the development, construction, and operations phases., In April 2020, Seminole Electric planned to build a new natural gas-fired power plant at its Palatka plant in Florida. The project has an investment cost of USD 727 million and is scheduled for commissioning by the end of 2023.. Notable trends are: Thermal Power to Dominate the Market.

United States Electricity Consumption data was reported at 10.243 kWh/Day bn in Mar 2025. This records a decrease from the previous number of 11.765 kWh/Day bn for Feb 2025. United States Electricity Consumption data is updated monthly, averaging 9.940 kWh/Day bn from Jan 1991 (Median) to Mar 2025, with 411 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 13.179 kWh/Day bn in Jul 2024 and a record low of 7.190 kWh/Day bn in Apr 1991. United States Electricity Consumption data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by U.S. Energy Information Administration. The data is categorized under Global Database’s United States – Table US.RB004: Electricity Supply and Consumption. [COVID-19-IMPACT]

United States US: Electricity Production From Nuclear Sources: % of Total data was reported at 19.346 % in 2015. This records an increase from the previous number of 19.230 % for 2014. United States US: Electricity Production From Nuclear Sources: % of Total data is updated yearly, averaging 17.851 % from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2015, with 56 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 20.647 % in 2001 and a record low of 0.069 % in 1960. United States US: Electricity Production From Nuclear Sources: % of Total data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s United States – Table US.World Bank.WDI: Energy Production and Consumption. Sources of electricity refer to the inputs used to generate electricity. Nuclear power refers to electricity produced by nuclear power plants.; ; IEA Statistics © OECD/IEA 2014 (http://www.iea.org/stats/index.asp), subject to https://www.iea.org/t&c/termsandconditions/; Weighted average; Electricity production shares may not sum to 100 percent because other sources of generated electricity (such as geothermal, solar, and wind) are not shown. Restricted use: Please contact the International Energy Agency for third-party use of these data.

The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) publishes a wide selection of data and statistics on energy power technologies from a variety of sources (e.g. EIA, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Sandia National Laboratory, EPRI and AWEA). In 2006, NREL published the 4th edition, presenting, among other things, data on the U.S. electricity supply. The series of datasets included are: primary and delivered energy (1980 - 2030); electricity overview (1980 - 2030); consumption of fossil fuels by electric generators (1980 - 2030); electric power sector energy consumption (1980 - 2030); fossil fuel generation by age of generating unit (1980 - 2005); nuclear generation by age of generating units (1980 - 2005); operational renewable energy generating capacity (1980 - 2003); number of utilities (1980 - 2004); top-10 IOUs (1990 - 2004); top-10 worldwide independent power producers; and utility mergers and acquisitions (1998 - 2004). The data was compiled from a variety of sources, including EIA, NREL, and SEC.

Graph and download economic data for Sources of Revenue: Sales of Energy and Resources - Electricity Generation and Distribution for Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution, All Establishments, Employer Firms (REVSEGEF2211ALLEST) from 2013 to 2022 about power transmission, distributive, employer firms, accounting, revenue, establishments, electricity, energy, sales, services, and USA.